But the precise contents of this tangy relish itself have remained a mystery. Until now.

After more than 170 years, the original recipe for Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce has been revealed.

It was found in notes dating from the mid-1800s that were dumped in a skip by the sauce factory.

Brian Keogh, a former Lea and Perrins accountant, discovered the notes, which were neatly written in sepia ink in two leather-bound folios, and rescued them.

Today, the label on bottles of the sauce lists vinegar, molasses, sugar, salt, anchovies, tamarind extract, onions and garlic. But it doesn't reveal the identity of other key ingredients, merely adding 'spice' and 'flavouring'.

Mr Keogh's documents reveal that these could include cloves, soy sauce, lemons, pickles and peppers. Until now, the all-important ratios of the ingredients have also remained a mystery.

What is missing, however, is the method used to blend the constituent parts of the sauce. Nor does the recipe reveal how much sauce the various ingredients are intended to make.

Mr Keogh died three years ago aged 80. His daughter, Bonnie Clifford, found the notes and is now working with Worcester Museum to have the documents put on display.

I bought a jar of Worcestershire sauce about a week ago at Wal-Mart and noticed something interesting. The brand I bought, French’s not Lea and Perrins, was cheaper per ounce than Wal-Marts own store brand.

I guess it is possible that Wal-Mart’s brand was better but I doubt it.

Unfortunately I can’t find the best version of this joke so here goes:

How Worcestershire Sauce was named:

Many years ago, Melba (a Southern Housewife) mixed some spices together and
put the ingredients in a bottle.
That night, she served pork Chops and since the family had Guests,
She thought she would put the bottle of her creation out for them
to try.
Man..Oh..Man..Everybody loved it and Melba could hear their Raves
all the way into the Kitchen were Melba was working.

Finally Melba came out into the dining area and one of her
Guests Asked: Ah..Melba: Whaz this Here Sauce?

11
posted on 11/08/2013 4:23:06 PM PST
by Lx
(Do you like it? Do you like it, Scott? I call it, "Mr. & Mrs. Tenorman Chili.")

When Subway re-introduced the venerable Steak N Cheese (now calling it the Philly Cheesesteak), it was missing something, because they don’t let the steak stew in its juices anymore, but just have little individual trays of steak that they microwave. It is too dry and doesn’t have the same flavor.

I found that adding a dash of Lea & Perrins is just the thing to approximate the old sammich.

Skip - noun [C] (CONTAINER)/skɪp/ UK (US trademark Dumpster) a large metal container into which people put unwanted objects or building or garden waste, and brought to and taken away from a place by a special truck when people ask for it http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/british/skip_5

24
posted on 11/08/2013 4:52:45 PM PST
by Jack Hydrazine
(Im not a Republican, I'm a Conservative! Pubbies haven't been conservative since before T.R.)

Indeed I do, I spent an entire summer in the 80's screwing with this subject just for the hell of it.. Ha! The ingredients are baffling to the extent that they make no sense in why someone thought to create that flavor to begin with.. :)

Something smells and it’s not the anchovies. So, after over a century, L&P along with dozens of other Worcestershire Sauce companies were making the stuff without knowing the recipe. And for some unknown reason, a former employee found the recipe that was for another unknown reason thrown out. And now they’re getting headlines. I suspect L&P hired the same PR firm that Wonder Boy is using.

26
posted on 11/08/2013 4:57:29 PM PST
by bgill
(This reply was mined before it was posted.)

Good article Servo...The original story is interesting. A Brit who lived in India came home and asked two men to replicate a sauce he enjoyed in India. From his description they made it but....it was awful. Left in the basement for several years when he came across it, tasted...it was great !...That's a true story or at least you'll have to tell a bigger lie....HA

I make my own honey mustard that I use on chicken when I bake it in the oven
Beat boneless skinless chicken breasts flat
Slice some bacon into bits and fry it
Brown chicken in bacon grease
Place chicken in a pan and coat with honey mustard, top with cheddar cheese and finally bacon bits
Bake til done
My fave chicken recipe

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